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Fayetteville‑Manlius proposes $116 million 2025‑26 budget; board opens and closes public hearing and sets May 20 vote
Summary
Business officers presented a proposed $116 million budget for 2025‑26 with a 4.64% increase, a tax levy proposal that would hit the 3.56% cap, a $1.5 million bus purchase proposition and capital project updates; the board opened and closed the required public hearing and scheduled the budget vote for May 20.
The Fayetteville‑Manlius administration presented a proposed 2025‑26 budget totaling approximately $116 million, an increase of about 4.64 percent over the prior year, and explained the major drivers, proposed tax levy and related propositions.
Staff summarized the three required budget components: program (the largest share at roughly $86 million), capital (about $17.3 million) and administrative (about $10.4 million). Major expenditure drivers the presentation identified included fixed salary costs (negotiated or forecast settlements), increased health‑insurance/benefit costs (approximately $1.4 million projected), and higher debt service related to the district’s roughly $52 million high‑school construction project. The presentation said the capital transfer line was reduced from $1.5 million to $1.0 million because much capital work is being covered within the active projects.
On the revenue side, the administration proposed a tax levy increase that would reach the allowable cap (presented as 3.56 percent) and projected state aid to increase modestly (about $830,000, or 2.4 percent). Staff estimated an illustrative tax‑rate impact using a $100,000 home and a 10 percent assessment increase, noting that equalization changes could reduce the effect widely across municipalities; the presenter cautioned that those assessment and equalization numbers were estimates.
The proposed budget includes an appropriation of assigned fund balance of about $2.3 million; staff said interest income and other revenues partially offset expenditures. The administration emphasized that the proposed budget includes no cuts to programs or staffing and continues mental‑health staffing and services.
The board agenda included a transportation‑vehicle proposition: a $1.5 million proposition to purchase six 71‑passenger buses and two student‑transport minivans. The administration described an on‑site test of an electric bus and said performance varied with cold weather and charging logistics; the presentation also called attention to physical constraints at the transportation facility and routing requirements that complicate an immediate all‑electric transition. Staff noted that a failed proposition would not result in replacing buses with electric vehicles; it would delay replacement and require using older vehicles for another year.
At the meeting the board voted to open the required public hearing on the budget and later voted to close it after hearing no public speakers. Board members encouraged voter participation and reminded the public the formal budget vote is scheduled for May 20 at Wellwood (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.).
Why this matters: The budget affects tax levies, staffing, capital projects and bus replacement. The transportation proposition and the capital project debt service are primary drivers that the administration said require voter approval to proceed as presented.
